Luggage frame having locking hinge structure



Jan. 19, 1954 STEIN 2,666,227

LUGGAGE FRAME HAVING LOCKING HINGE STRUCTURE Original Filed July 20,1945 Patented Jan. 19, 1954 LUGGAGE FRAME HAVING LOCKING HINGE STRUCTURELeo Stein, Chicago, Ill.

Original application July .20, 1945, Serial No. 606,084. Divided andthis application March 17, 1951, Serial No. 216,175

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in luggage frames'and moreparticularly relates to suchframes having improved hinge structureconnecting two similar frame members together for swinging into open orclosed relative positions.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 606,084,filed July 20, 1945, Patent No. 2,545,501, dated March 20, 1951.

An important object of the present invention is 'to provide improvedluggage frame structure 'means for automatically retaining the framemembers in wide open position as an incident to swinging the framemembers to such open position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved yieldablehinge locking means for luggage frames.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one type of luggage to which thepresent invention may be applied, showing a frame embodying the featuresof the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a luggage frame embodying theinvention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational View looking toward the inner sideof the left hand luggage frame hinge structure as viewed in Figure 2 andtaken substantially in the plane of line III-III;

Figure 4 is an outside elevational view of the left hand hinge structureof Figure 2 looking substantially in the direction of the arrows on theline IVIV; and

Figure 5 is a view looking toward the right side of the structure shownin Figure 4, substantially as indicated by the line VV with theexception,

however, that the hinged frame structure has been swung open asindicated in dash outline in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the bag frame as shown in Figure 4, with theframe members in an extended position;

5 the extremitiesof the frame members and which Figure 7 is a plan viewof the device as shown in Figure 4, with the frame members extended andin the process of being unlocked.

In Figure 1 is shown, by way of example, a bag 10 in the form of a briefcase having the usual side wall structure and expansible gussets I Iconnecting the same at the ends and bottom while a luggage frame I2 iscarried by the upper edges of the side walls and gussets.

For details of the luggage frame l2 reference is invited to myapplication above-identified and to my Patent 2,200,972, dated May 14,1940. Suffice it here to say that the frame comprises a pair ofcomplementary, fairly rigid, generally inverted U-shaped members l3 andM. The frame members are arranged to be releasably locked by mechanism[5 (Fig. 2) including a carrying handle IT. The upper locking mechanisml5 may be of the kind to which the above-mentioned application is moreparticularly directed.

At the lower ends of the downturned arms or legs of the frame members [3and M, they are pivotally connected together by combination hinge andyieldable locking means preferably in the form of substantiallyidentical combination hinge and locking devices l8, and it is to thisstructure that the present application is especially directed.

Each of the hinge-lock structures it comprises a hinge plate I9 which isattached to the bag material at the corners of the bag opening and towhich the adjacent ends of the frame members l3 and I4 are similarlyloosely pivoted by means of respective rivets 20 andZl (Figs. 3 and 4).'By preference the pivoting of the frame members 13 and M on the hingeplates !9 is in side-by-side relation so that each of the frame membersis independently pivoted but in such relation that in the juxtaposed orclosed condition of the luggage frame the frame members [3 and I 4 willbe reasonably snugly mutually engaged.

In order to facilitate swinging open of the frame members l3 and M, thelower companion extremities of the frame members are preferablyarcuately formed as indicated at 22. Thereby when the frame members l3and M are swung open to a position as indicated in dash outline in Fig.4, the arcuate extremity portions 22 can ride on one another or at leastclear one another without interference until the frame has been swung tothe fully open position as shown. In this fully open position, limitupon further opening is preferably accomplished by respective terminalshoulders 23 formed at the outer sides of 3 in the fully open positionof the frame members abut one another and lock the frame members againstfurther opening movement.

In order to relieve the rivets 20 and 2! of shear stresses imposedthereon by the frame members is and M. in the fully open position andwherein the limit shoulders 23. thrust against one another, the hingeplate is is provided with respective limit shoulders 24 at its oppositesides against which the frame members bear in the fully open position.By preference, the hinge plate limit.

shoulders 24 are provided at the upper ends of an inturned flange 25 onthe margin of the plate;

It will be observed that the shoulder termini of the marginal flange 25terminate below an upper hinge portion of the plate 19' so as to affordclearance for swinging of the frame members !3 and M.

For locking the frame I2, and thereby the bag if! to whichit isattached,in-open'position, means are provided whereby when'thee frame members isand M have been swung to-w-ide open position,, a locking mechanismautomatically comes into operation to hold thev frame. in the opencondition untit intentionally manually released for closing. To thisend, the mechanism P8. includes a locking cam plate 2i. fixedly securedto one of the frame members, as for. example the frame member ts as bymeans-of a pair of screws 28. While the hinge plate l-Siis preferablycarried by the outer sides of the frame members it and. Ed, the lockingplate 21 is preferably carried at. theinnersides of the extremityportions of the frame members beyond the end of theattached leg of theframe member !3. and to overlap and projectboth. laterally and endwisebeyond the adiacent extremity portion of the frame member Mi. Astheframe member i3 is rotated or. swung between closed and open positions,vthelocking plate 2?: swings with it.

For effecting a connection of thezplate. 21 with the frame. member [-4,the pivot rivet ZI- extends throughan arcuate'slot. 29in the plate 2lithrough which. the shank of therivet slides as. the plate swings withthe frame member !3 or when the frame member M is moved. relative to theframe member l3, while the head of the-rivet 2 maintains a looseconnection of the locking plate and the frame member I4.

For locking purposes, the plate 21 has a locking shoulder 36 thereonbehind which the frame member i i-is adapted to spring in the fully openrelative positions of theframe members, substantially as shown in dashoutline in Fig 4 and in full outline in Fig. 5. To facilitate sliding ofthe plate 2i past the frame member M toward the locked condition,. theouter face of the plate 21 is provided with a. cam. surface 3| leadingto the shoulder 30 and opposing the frame member IA in the range ofrelative. opposition. from. the. fully closed condition of the framemembers tov the fully open position of the frame members.

In-the opening relative movement-of the frame 1 members l3 and M, theframe members pivot about their respective pivots 2'0 and 21, thelocking plate 2'! swings with the frame member [3 and relative to theframe member M, with the tapered cam surface 3! sliding along theopposing face of the frame member l4 until in the fully open positionof' the frame members, the frame member [4 snaps in back of the shoulder30 on the plate 21. In the assembly, the pivot pin or rivet 2.! issuflicientlylonger in thQshank The. locking plate 21 is constructedandarranged to extend substantially of the locking, plates 27.

portion thereof than the thickness of the members through which itpasses to afford some end play or looseness to avoid binding of theplate 2'! and the frame member It. This facilitates the springing of thecam locking plate 2'! and the. frame member l4 relatively to effect theinterlocked open condition.

As may be seen from a consideration from Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, when theframe members 13 and [4 are opened to their fully extended position thenatural rigidity of the frame member M" will maintain the bent-over endsof the frame in substantially parallel position and hence the frame It!will not pass back over the shoulder 31] without outside aid. However,since the: pivot pin. 21 is somewhat longer than the combined widths ofthe plate 27 and the frame member I4 when these two parts are positionedin the fully extended'position shown in Figure 5, .the frame member limay be-sprung laterally asshown in Figure 7. When thus sprung in thedirection of the arrow as shown in Figure 7, the frame member M willclear the shoulder 3t to permit the frame members [3 and [-4 to becollapsed into a closed position as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

It has been found that the natural resiliency of the frame members Mwill permit the necessary springing thereof at both sides of the bagsimultaneously when locking plates are to be utilizedat both ends of thebag. Further, the natural resiliency of the frame members i l, incombination with the looseness of the pivot pin. El will permit themembers t3 and Hi to collapse, springing around the-shoulders 30- whenarelatively heavy closing pressure is manually exerted on the sideframesl3 and I4.

It will be understood. that either one or both of the. hinge devices.is. may be provided with one In the frame assembly as. shown in Fig. 2,both of the devices 58. are shownzas equipped with one of the locking;plates 21.. For. uniformity in operation, the locking plates l8 arepreferably secured to the same frame member, namelythe frame member !3.

For additional firmness in the open condition of the luggage frame, thelength of the arcuate slot 29 and the plate 21. may be such that therivet 2| will engage the wall defining one extremity of. the slot in thefully open condition of the frame as shown in Fig. 4, thus supplementingthe thrust shoulders 23 and the retaining shoulders 24.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novelconcepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention:

1'. Ina luggage frame assembly, a pair of frame members, a hinged platefor securing said frame members together, first pivot means securing oneof said" frame members to. said hinge plate, secondpivot means securingthe other of said frame members to said plate whereby said frame membersare rotatable on said pivots into an extended position or a closedposition in which they lie immediately adjacent each other insubstantially parallel relationship, a locking plate fixedly secured. tosaid one frame'm'ember and extending beyond the end thereof intooverlapping relation with said other frame member, said locking platelying in a plane generally parallel to the plane of said hinge plate andhaving an interference shoulder't-hereon adapted to spring over the edgeof said other frame member whenv the. frame .5 members are in extendedposition, said second pivot being axially loose whereby said other framemember may be sprung relative to the locking plate to clear saidshoulder and thereby permit movement of said frame members into saidclosed position.

2. In combination in a luggage frame assembly, a hinge plate having apair of frames pivotally mounted thereon for movement between a closedposition in which said frames are substantially parallel to each otherinto an open position in which the frames are in extended relation witheach other, a locking plate fixedly secured to one of said frames andextending therebeyond into overlapping relation with the other frame,the pivot means supporting said other frame on said plate being axiallyloose whereby said other frame may be readily sprung laterally alongsaid pivot relative to said locking plate, and laterally extendingshoulder means on said locking plate for extension into the path ofmovement of said other frame to maintain said frames in an extendedposition when placed in such a position.

3. In combination in a luggage frame assembly of the characterdescribed, a pair of frame members, means pivotally connecting saidframe members, one of said frame members having on the pivotally mountedextremity portion thereof a locking plate projecting beyond theextremity and overlapping the extremity of the other frame member,shoulder locking means on the locking plate for cooperation with theextremity of the other frame member, the pivotal connection of saidother frame member to said means having looseness axially of the pivotwhereby said other frame member may be deflected relative to said oneframe member and said locking plate to permit its pivotal movement pastsaid locking shoulder.

, frame members are in extended position relative to each other, aninclined cam surface connecting the portion of said locking plateimmediately adjacent said one frame member to said locking shoulderwhereby movement of said frame members, into extended position willcause said other frame member extremity portion to be deflected by saidcam surface over said shoulder, the pivot means of said other frameextremity portion being axially loose whereby said other frame extremityportion may be deflected readily relative to said one frame extremityportion and said locking plate to thereby permit said other frame memberextremity portion to pass back over said locking shoulder into closeside by side relationship with said one frame member.

LEO STEIN.

References Cited. in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date 284,446 Lieb Sept. 4, 1883 334,856 Finney Jan. 26, 1886380,768 Reinisch Apr. 10, 1888 1,102,307 'Tueckmantel July 7, 19141,505,593 Fryer Aug. 19, 1924 1,639,977 Bellingrath 1 Aug. 23, 19271,862,665 Dvorak June 14, 1932 Sloane et a1 Feb. 10, 1942

